Council members Bill Strom and Jim Ward suggested that the town meet with the University to discuss other options for a new public works facility, such as locating it near Chapel Hill's existing site by the Horace Williams tract.
Ward said the town would like to continue occupying the site near the tract with the University's permission, possibly as a joint facility.
Ward said it could be a solution to the University's need to find a new place in 15 months to hold a grounds maintenance facility, a printing facility and a fueling station, among other facilities.
"We'd like to explore the potential of collocating with the University," he said, adding that the council also has extended the idea to include Carrboro.
Council member Mark Kleinschmidt said he is excited about the possibility of collocating the public works facilities because it would solve the Elkin Hills controversy. "We could find a place for it where we're not 200 feet from somebody's backyard," Kleinschmidt said.
Leslie Zeldin of 804 Powell St. said if the University is going to build near Elkin Hills, a public works facility is not the thing to build. "It's very inappropriate," she said. "We're sticking by our guns, and we hope the University continues to be a good neighbor."
Bruce Runberg, UNC associate vice chancellor for facilities services, said he and other officials understand why Elkin Hills residents are upset. "We are most willing and want to continue to talk to the neighbors about the proposed plan, as well as the town staff," he said.
But he said the proposed site is zoned for the public works facility, according to the Chapel Hill development ordinance.
Chapel Hill and Carrboro both already have purchased land to build their own public works facilities, but Kleinschmidt said Chapel Hill could find another use for the land if the opportunity arose to remain at the facility in use now, rather than spend millions of dollars to move to the new location.
